PS4 and Xbox One gamers given SHOCK cross-play news that could change EVERYTHING!

PS4 and Xbox One gamers given SHOCK cross-play news that could change EVERYTHING!

Microsoft has confirmed that it is talking with Sony regarding bringing cross-play to both platforms.

Cross-play - which would allow PS4 players to play games with Xbox One users and vice-versa - has been a much-requested feature on both consoles for a long time, but traditionally it has been Sony blocking the move.

At Gamescom, however, Aaron Greenberg, head of marketing at Xbox, told GameReactor that Microsoft still hasn't given up on the idea and that talks with Sony are ongoing.

Games like Rocket League and ARK: Survival Evolved are already cross-play between Xbox One and PC, and games like Street Fighter are cross-play between PS4 and PC, so a good precedent has been set so far.

"We're talking to Sony, we do partner with them on Minecraft and of course we would like to enable them to be part of that; one community, to unite gamers," Greenberg said.

"So we're talking to them and we're hopeful that they'll be supportive of it."

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If Sony and Microsoft did both allow cross-play across both platforms, the line between who'd need to moderate or be responsible for in-game interactions or breaches of the terms of service.

It also stands to reason that both parties may need to relax the rules around Xbox Live Gold accounts and PS+ subscriptions if they want to implement the service fully.

Sony Worldwide Studios' President Shuhei Yoshida was speaking with Eurogamer.com at the Game Developers Conference 2016 in San Francisco and had this to say on the potential of console cross-play:

"They're saying they're going to do cross-platform play between Xbox One and PC with some games.

"We've been doing that with PS3 and PC, PS4 and PC most recently with Street Fighter 5 and Rocket League and other games.

"That's nothing new for us, in terms of working with developers and publishers to allow cross-platform play between PC and PS4."

"[talking specifically about Xbox] Connecting two different closed networks is much more complicated so we have to work with developers and publishers to understand what it is they are trying to accomplish.

"We also have to look at the technical aspect - and the technical aspect could be the easiest. We also have to look at policy issues and business issues as well."

So even if both sides are up for it, there could still be some notable technical barriers in the way.